In both the books and TV show, the events of 'the series' begin in 298 AL. In the books, Robert's Rebellion begins in 282 and end in 283. Daenerys is conceived in 283, maybe just a few weeks before Aerys' death, and born eight months later in 284 (she starts GoT at 13 and turns 14 a little while later).

In the TV series, they had to account for Dany, Robb and Jon all being older. So in the TV series the war ends in 281. How long the TV version of the war lasts, or when Dany was born, are not expanded on. The discrepency between the TV and book durations of the war are deliberate.

I must be missing something because I dont get it. Why would he wait so damn long to find out how Ella and the kids really died, and/or seek revenge?

Dorne was considering siding with Viserys and letting the war rage on, but Jon Arryn came to Sunspear and negotiated with Doran. He basically said the war was over and the rest of the Seven Kingdoms would invade Dorne if that happened. So Doran agreed to accept the status quo and he restrained Oberyn, who was all for continuing the war no matter what. Doran and Oberyn rarely or never left Dorne after that. They weren't happy at all, but they were also backed into a corner. I also wonder if Jon sweetened the deal by agreeing to respect Dornish autonomy more than they had done previously; Dorne was apparently not really involved much in the rest of the Seven Kingdoms from the end of the civil war until the start of the War of the Five Kings.

What changed things was Tyrion offering Doran a seat on the small council and hinting that 'the justice' might be served (i.e. Tyrion would give them Gregor Clegane). Unfortunately, Doran sent his hotheaded brother Oberyn instead. Oberyn would have come at any time in the previous 15-odd years, but he took advantage of the specific invitation by Tyrion that justice would be done and basically played the situation for all it was worth, culminating in him taking Tyrion's side in the trial by battle.

In both the books and TV show, the events of 'the series' begin in 298 AL. In the books, Robert's Rebellion begins in 282 and end in 283. Daenerys is conceived in 283, maybe just a few weeks before Aerys' death, and born eight months later in 284 (she starts GoT at 13 and turns 14 a little while later).

In the TV series, they had to account for Dany, Robb and Jon all being older. So in the TV series the war ends in 281. How long the TV version of the war lasts, or when Dany was born, are not expanded on. The discrepency between the TV and book durations of the war are deliberate.

Dorne was considering siding with Viserys and letting the war rage on, but Jon Arryn came to Sunspear and negotiated with Doran. He basically said the war was over and the rest of the Seven Kingdoms would invade Dorne if that happened. So Doran agreed to accept the status quo and he restrained Oberyn, who was all for continuing the war no matter what. Doran and Oberyn rarely or never left Dorne after that. They weren't happy at all, but they were also backed into a corner. I also wonder if Jon sweetened the deal by agreeing to respect Dornish autonomy more than they had done previously; Dorne was apparently not really involved much in the rest of the Seven Kingdoms from the end of the civil war until the start of the War of the Five Kings.

What changed things was Tyrion offering Doran a seat on the small council and hinting that 'the justice' might be served (i.e. Tyrion would give them Gregor Clegane). Unfortunately, Doran sent his hotheaded brother Oberyn instead. Oberyn would have come at any time in the previous 15-odd years, but he took advantage of the specific invitation by Tyrion that justice would be done and basically played the situation for all it was worth, culminating in him taking Tyrion's side in the trial by battle.

Does anyone who closely follows the series know if there are any hints as to what the endgame is for Mopatis-Varys? Clearly they are working together, seemingly with a distinct goal in mind, but I've not yet reasoned it out - other than perhaps bringing Daenarys to Westeros to rule and reign.

A particularly dull question ~

What is a year?

In our world, at ASoIaF's approximate level of social and scientific progress, a year was simply one Summer to the next, or one Winter, one Christmas, whatever. But they don't have that pattern to work from. So how come everyone seems to know how old they are, how many years ago things happened, etc? How do they keep the record?

I'm waiting for Wert to come in with a response. Did they simply set a time that roughly corresponds to our calendar? Do the days still get longer and shorter, even if there is no winter or summer? Do the maesters just know from some old ridiculous magic?

It may just be something that wasn't really thought of when the world was being constructed. I certainly never thought of it.

heres my dumb question, and what makes it even dumber is that i only finished adwd a few hours ago.
Jons last chapter, he announces he wants to ride on Winterfell and gets all the support he needs and then to walks outside and get stabbed by a couple of his fellow watchmen? why??

they think he's betraying them. He's sending the Watch on to Hard Home, which they suspect is a trap to get them killed, and taking the Wildings, whom the Watch hate and despise (or at least, many of those in the watch and certainly those who betrayed him) south to "conquer" Winterfell (thereby breaking his vows). It actually makes perfect sense, and Jon has no business going to Winterfell.

Actually, now that I think about it, I wonder if Melisandre had a hand in his "betrayal", knowing she could probably save him, to keep him at the Wall where he belongs...